Vent plug wrench



Sept.13,'1932. HwmRMOR 1,876,990

VENT PLUG WRENCH Filed April 11. 1930 tented Sept. 13, 1932 PATENT OFFICE HENRY W. LORMOR, OF CLEVELAND HEIGHTS, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TQ'WILLARD STORAGE BATTERY COMPANY, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF WESTVIBGINIA VENT PLUG WRENCH Application illed April 11, 1930. Serial No. 443,413.

This invention relates generally to tools, and as its principal object aims to provide an improved form of construction for tools of the type used for a plying torque of predetermined value to threaded members.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved frm of wrench for applying torque of predetermined value to the vent' plugs of storage batteries.

v'Ihe invention may be further briefly summarized as consisting in certain novel combinations and arrangements of parts hereinafter described and particularly set out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying sheet of drawing,

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view showing a tool constructed according to my invention, and also showing the manner of applying the tool to the work.

Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation of the tool shownin Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a bottom plan view thereof,

Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 2, and

Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional view taken on line 5 5 of Fig. 2. v

In the construction of storage batteries the jar covers, and the vent plugs to be applied thereto, are usually made of insulating material, such as hard rubber. This insulating material is more or less brittle, and when the vent plugs are Screwed into place` great care must be taken to prevent the application of too much force so as to avoid stripping of threads, and breakage of the plugs or battery jar covers.

In the drawing, illustrating my invention, I have shown a storage battery 10, having a cover 11, which is provided with the usual interiorly threaded vent and filler opening 12. This opening is closed by the customary vent plug 13, having a threaded portion engaging in the threaded opening, and a knurled or corrugated top portion 14, adaptetll to be grasped in applying-or removing the p ug. f

For rapidly applying these plugs to battery covers with predetermined force of sufcient value to secure uniform tightness of the plugs, and yet insuiilcient to cause breakage of the plugs or covers, I provide the implement 15 which may be conveniently termed a wrench. The body of this wrench is constructed in the form of a casing 16, having a socket or recess in its lower end which is shaped to receive the top portion ci a vent plug to be screwed into place.l At its upper end the casing is interiorly threaded and is ted with a cover 1'?, in which the spindle 18 of the operating handle 19 is rotatably mounted. For retaining the handle in the cover I provide a nut 20, which is threaded upon the spindle, and which engages the inner end of the cover so as to hold the shoulder 21 of the spindle in engagement with the outer end of the cover.

For connecting the casing 16 with the handle 19, so that a predetermined torque may be transmitted to the work through the casing, I provide friction means which is completely housed within the casing. This friction means comprises a friction disk 22 of suitable material, such as leather or ber, which is carried bythe casing, and a friction member. 23 which is operably connected with the operating handle 19 and which cooperates with the friction disk. 'Ihe friction member 23 may be of any suitable form of construction, but as herein illustrated comprises a metal disk 24 to which is cemented., or otherwise secured, a friction disk 25, formed of leather or other appropriate material. For connecting the friction member 23 for rotation with the operating handle 19, I

provide the former with a square' or other, non-circular central opening, into which the correspondingly shaped driving means 26 extends. In this particular embodiment of the invention the driving means is integral with handle spindle 18, and is the end portion thereof which extends into the casing. By this arrangement the rction member 23 is Aconnected to the handle 19 in such a way as to permit axial movement between the friction member and the driving means, but to prevent relative rotation therebetween.

' For moving the friction member axially of the casing,.and of the driving means into engagement with the friction disk or surface carried by the casing, I provide a coil spring 27 which surrounds the driving means 26 and interposed between the friction member and the nut 20. This spring yieldingly presses the friction member against the fricthe casing.

In the operation of the device the socket end ofthe casing is applied to the vent plug in the manner illustrated in Fig. l of the drawing. Upon rotation of the handle the vent plug is screwed into place and When slippage occurs between the friction disks the plug will have been applied with a desired predetermined tightness. This slippage, occuring between the disks 22 and 25 prevents a damaging or excessive force, which may be applied to the handle, from being transmitted to the plug or battery jar cover.

To suit the requirements of different pieces of Work it may be desirable to vary the value of the torsional force which the device will apply to the work, and this maybe readily done by adjusting the cover 17 axially of the casing 1G to vary the compression of the spring 27. To this end'the cover has been provided with holes 28 spaced to receive the pins of a Spanner wrench so that the cover can be readily rotated for screwing it into or out of the casing, as may be desired. For releasably locking the cover to the casing to retain it in a desired position of adjustment, the cover has been partially split as by the saw-cut 29. After the cover has been suitably adjusted the split portions are drawn towards each other by the screw 30, causing a binding action between the threads of the cover and those of the casing and thereby lockingor clamping the cover to the casing. By this arrangement the torsional force which the device will transmit to the work can be readily adjusted without the need o'f disassembling the device and substituting` springs of different characteristics or substituting friction disks having different frictonal values. Furthermore, the cover locking means which I have provided makes the substitution of one casing for another a very simple matter, so that the wrench may be quickly adapted for use on vent plugs of different shapes and sizes.

It will now be readily seen that I have provided a simple and compact form of tool having torquetransmitting friction means completely housed and protected Within a casing, so that grit, acid or oil cannot reach the cooperating parts to cause rapid deterioration thereof, or cause variations in the frictional resistance. The device, constructed according to my invention, is of very durable form, so that when submitted to the rough usage to which tools of this character are subject, it will not be readily damaged or get out of adjustment, with the result that the device may be relied upon to accurately and uniformly transmit a desired torque throughout a long period of usage. Furthermore, the device is readily adaptable to pieces of work of different sizes and may be easily adjusted to transmit the torque required by each type of work.

While I have shown and described the device of my invention in a detailed manner, it should be understood, however, that I do not intend to limit myself to the precise arrangement and construction of parts shown and described, but regard my invention as in cluding such changes and modifications as do not involve a departure' from the spirit 0f the invention and the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention I claim: l f

l. A tool comprising a casing having a work engaging portion .at one end thereof and a cover at the opposite end thereof, an voperating handle journaled in said cover and having a non-circular portion extending into said casing, means for preventing relative axial movement between said handle and -cover and means whereby rotation of said handle imparts a predetermined torque to` said casing, said means including a friction surface within said casing, a friction member within said casing having a correspondingly shaped portion engaged by the non-circular portion of said handle, and means in said casing for moving said friction member axially into engagement with said friction surface.

2. A wrench for battery vent plugs comprising a casing formed with a socket in one end thereof adapted to engage a vent plug for rotating the same, an operating handle rotatable relative to said casing but securedv against relative aXial movement, and means whereby rotation of said handle imparts to said casing a predetermined torque, said means comprising a friction surface carried by said casing interiorly thereof, a friction `member within said casing, spring means for urging said friction member toward said friction surface, and non-circular driving means associated with said handle and eX- tending intofsaid casing and engaging a correspondingly shaped portion of said friction member, whereby the latter is adapted to be rotated by said handle but is movable axially of said driving means.

3. A wrench for battery vent plugs comprising a casing having a socket in one end thereof adapted to engage a vent plug`fo`r rotating the same, bearing means at the other end of said casing, an operating handle rotatably supported by said bearing means but secured against relative axial movement, and

se i

means whereby rotation of said handle mp parts to said casing a predetermined torque,

said means comprising a friction surface carried by said casing, a friction disk, spr 1ng means for holding said friction disk against said friction surface, and means connect-l ing said friction disk to said handle to permit axial relative movement but preventing relative rotation therebetween. i 10 4. A tool comprising a casing having a work engaging portion at one end thereof and bearing means at the opposite end thereof, an operating member journaled in said bearing means but secured against relative axial movement, said member having a por tion thereof extending into said casing, friction means carried by said casing interiorly thereof, friction means associated with the inwardly extending portion of said o erating member, means for pressing sai friction means together whereby rotation of said operating member imparts torque to said casing, and means for adjustably connecting said bearing means with said casing whereby the action of said pressing means may be varied.

5. A wrench for battery vent plugs comprising a casing formed with a socket in one end thereof adapted to engage a vent plug for rotating the same,bearing means at the A other end of said casing, an operating handle rotatably supported by said bearing means and having a non-circular portion extending into said casing, a retaining member secured to said portion and engageable with said hearing means for preventing relative axial movement therebetween, a friction surface within said casing, a friction disc .within said casing and having a correspondingly shaped portion engaged by said non-circular portion of said handle, and a spring interposed between said retaining member and said disc for moving said disc axially into engagement with said friction surface.

In testimony whereof, I hereunto aiiixV my signature.

, HENRY W. LORMOR. 

